Hopper-door lock



Patented Feb. 7, 192%.

'WILLIAM E. WINE-OF TULED, OHIO.

HOPPER-DOOR LUCK.

Application :tiled December, 1924. Serial No. 756,721.

The invention relates to securing* devices or locks for dump doorsofrailway cars and has particular reference to a lock for use inconnection with doors of that type which` are. pivoted or hinged atopposite sides of the center line of the car sogas to be. movable toclosed position transversely of the longitudinal axis of the car..

The primary object of the invention, generally stated,"is to providea-securing means or locking device for use in connection with this typeof dump door 'so constructed and arranged that the door will be held atmore than one point and consequently adequately braced or reinforced toprevent sagging under heavy load conditions.

An important object of theiinvention is tol providea constructioninvolving attachment or adjuncts which will facilitate forcing the doorinto closed and seat engaging position by the employment of a suitableprybar, one ofthe elements of such including a portion of the door whichmay advantageously consist of means acting to Vstiften and 1 brace thefree end of the door.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of theabove mentioned character in which the side of the car is formed with anopening located preferably between the door hook assemblies for theinsertion of a pry-bar whereby the edge of the opening will serve as afulcrum when the pry-bar is engaged with a portion. of the door such asa reinforcing element mounted at the free end of the door.

A further object'of the invention is to provide a door locking mechanismin which the parts may be applied to already existing cars in a simpleand easy manner and without necessitating material changes or.alterations in the construction of the car or door itself. p

The invention further contemplates the provision of various structuraldetails which will result in greatly strengthening the door `andassociated parts and thereby reduce 'likelihood of derangement,breakage. or

ably consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of partsto be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the appendedclaims.l

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views:

- Figure l is a horizontal section through a portion of a railway car ofthe type mentioned, looking toward the bottom thereof and illustratingthe door in its normal or closed position.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the ca r showing the doorhooks in cooperative engagement with tlie door arms for holding the doorin closed position.

Figure 3 is al sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2,-showingthe. door in closed position and clearly illustrating the fulcrum holeinthe side of the car and the reinforcing element carried by the freeend ofl the door forming a convenient pry-bar receiving means.

Figurefl is a'detailnend elevation of the i `showna fragment or portionof a car of allsteel construction, only a portion of one-half or .oneside of theca'r being disclosed inasmuch as such is entirely sufficientfor the purpose of illustrating the invention. A car includes centersills l, side sills 2, both of the usual channel construction and -afloor 3 which is riveted to the upper horizontal flanges of the centerand side sills as indicated at 4, the side and center sills thusdepending below t-he general level of the floor. The side of the car isformed of the usual plates or sheets 5' riveted to thel outer faces ofthe side sills 2 and reinforced or stiifened by the vertically extendingstakes 7 riveted to -the side sheets and side sills, as indicated at 8.The oor 3 is formed with an opening 9 for the discharge ofthe carlading, and

this opening is normally closed by a door 10 '1 and 2, as by means ofangle plates 12-and 13, respectively. Extending longitudinally of thecar outwardly of the center sills l are channel beams 14 located betweenthe V.suc-1 cessive transverse bars or beams 1l and sel cured thereto asby means of angle plates 15.

The floor or floor sheet 3 is also riveted to the horizontal flange ofvthe beam 14s, as shown at 16.,

The mountingr for the door l() includes a pair of hinge brackets 1,7riveted or otherwise secured to the outer face ofthe beam 14 and having`pintle` pins 1S extending7 thei-cthrough.i` Suitably secured, as byrivets' Shown at 1t), to the undersideof the door tu is a pair ofdoor'arms 20 formed `as angle bars. Theinner ends ol the door arms`thatris, the ends remote from the side of the car, are shown as copcd todeliiieelongated strips 21 formed into knuckles 22 engaged within vthebrackets l? and pivoted withrespect thereto by nieansof the pintles 18above desciibed. Obviouslyr` the door -arins Could be mountedirrespective of the hinge connections though the above mentionedconstruction is obviously preferable inasmuch as it reduces the numberof parts and provides a strong and rigid connection which door and`further includes an angularly de` will insure proper movement of thedoor when swung intoV open or'v closed position, as the case may be. Theouter ends of the door arms are of angular formation or shape andinclude downwardlyvv and out Tardly. inclined portions .23 terminatingin horizontal outward extensions Qtvwhicli extend beneathand projectbeyond the side of the ear, as clearly indicated. As stated above, thedoor arms are conveniently formed of angle bars -and these bars arepreferably arranged with flanges extending toward E2 for co*` theirhorizontal each otherras indicated in Figure operationwitli means to bedescribed.

i One of the features of the invent-ion is the provision of areinforcing and li'iaciiii; bridge membjer 25 which is loeatedben'eatli-the free end portion of `tlie door-l0 and secured thereto asfoninstanee by means of the Arivets 26. 'lhisn'iemberuQ is substantiallyZ-shaped and 4includes'the horizontal iange engaging against theunderside of the 'ected edge4 portion 2T-conforniinglyl exi-aap;-v ingagainst the inclined portions 23 of the door` arms 20 and securedthereto as for instanceby the rivets 28. Owing to the fact that thismember 25-bridgcs the space be@ tween the downwardly-inclined portionsof' the door arms and the door, it is quite ob-` vious thatit 'willexert a very efficient brac# ing action and make the door structurerigid andstrong so lthat, all the strain will not come upon the rivetsor other securing de vices 19. f

For. holdingthe door in closed. position, I provide a pair oflockassemblies designated broadly by the numeral 29 arrangedin reversed 0 1'Opposed relation andmounted Yof upon the outsideof the rcar side 5..Each

these assemblies bracket 3Q within which is pivoted, as at 315 a hook324-liavinel ledges 3B and Btl adapted to be engaged beneath the outerprojecting end of a door arin 2u. lilaeli assembly further includes alocking cam 8l i'iirotedwith#y in the bracliet il() and eneagcablewiththe liool; 32 for the purpose of'holdingjY the latter lirinly inengagement with the associated door arm and p iifvent'in r unintentionalydisplacement.` i

In doors' of this character it. is highly desirable that sonic provisionbe made whereby the door mayv .be pried into itsfinal closed position bymeans ol' a prjcbar, crow-bar or the like. :i iioii1 e |tuiiee. lprovide an opening; 35 in the side sheet 5 of the cai' and aregisterii'ig hole Bllinthe adjacent side sill 2. An opening' 8i inavalso advantaleousliI be provided in'tlie i'eii-itorcingr member 2.7preferably in alineiiient with the openings shown, for the purpose oflimiting the opening: movement. Assuming that the car lad in e; has`been discharged subsequent to ope`ning of the door, when it desired toclose and lock .tlie'doordt may be swung by hand upwardly until theextensions 24 of the dooiI` arms engage with the first ledfvfes 33 onthe hooks 32. This auxiliary locliing ledge on 4 the hooks providesmeans wherebyA the door or doors, although disto'rtediby service, inavbe easilyheld in temporary locked position.

includes a suitableV loi IUI

After this is donc, la suitable pry-bar, crowbar or other similar toolmay be inserted through the holes 35, f-lt and 37 and the bartlieirpulleddownwardly so that the lower edgeso'ttbe'holes' and ,3Givill serve as a fulcruiii. This downward inovemciitot the, outer endof. the prvbar will natnrally'rcsiilt in forcing' thedoor 10 upwardlyrto its seat' against the. underside. of the tloor 3, l

whereupon the hooks 32 will swing or be so moved that the ledges 33thereof may be lengaged beneath' the extensions' 2.4i1 of vthe door armsand the cams 34 swung' into engagement with the hooks for holding themagainst possible displacement.

1t will be readily'appreciated that the Jfulernin feature of theinvention is not limited in its application to doors ofV any particiilar construction as the elevation of the opening formed in the sideof the car may be varied so. as to enable the inner end of the pryingtool to engage with any' desired portion ofthe door. Furthermore, as ithas been found that the door, notwithstanding that it has become warped,can often, .without great dif'culty, be raised to a position such thatthe main ledge 33 of one of the pair of hooks can engage its door arm,it will be perceived-that in such cases the auxiliary ledge 33? is notcalled upon to aid in the closing of the door. ledge `33 of one' of thehooks vengages with its doorfa'rm in `the manner just described, it isobvious thatthe pry-bar may be used to forcilol` move theldoor'v topermit the- A hopper door provided with the door arms and reinforcingplate or bridge member, asfdescribed and provided with the pair other oft e hooksl to supportingly engage 'of hook devices, will be notonlystrong and durable in service but also extremely easy and convenlent tooperate, owing to the pro.-

vision rof th means facilitatingprying ofl the door to its seat so thatfull closure thereof is easily effected. j

While I have shown and f described the preferred embodiment of theinvention', it is of course to be understood that various 'changes inthe details of construction and r opening, a door arm secured to saiddoor,

means engageable with the door arm for supporting the door inclosedposition,'andr fnlcrum means located in the side sheet of the caradapted to receive a pry-bar for forcing the door to closedposition. v

2. In a railway car having a discharge opening, a hingedly mounted doorfor closing the opening, a pair of door arms secured to the-underside ofthe door in spaced relation and projecting beyond the sidel of the car,a pair of hook assemblies mounted on the outsideof the cai` in spacedrelation and each including a`bracket, a hook pivoted therein and havingledges adapted to be en-y gaged beneath 'the door arm and furtherincluding a locking cam engageable with the hook for holding the 'sameagainst disengagement from the door arm, and fnlcrum` means locatedinthe side of the car between said hook assemblies adapted to receive apry-bar engageable lwith the free end of the door whereby the door maybe pushed up to its seat. f

3. In a railwa car having a discharge opening, a hinge ly mounted doorfor clos- When the main ing the opening, a pair of door arms secured tothe underside of the door in spaced relation and projecting beyond theside of the car, a pairI of hook assemblies mounted on the outside ofthefcar in spaced relation and veach including a bracket, a hookpivoted'therein andhavingledges adapted to be engagedbeneath the doorarm and further including a locking camengageable with the hook `forholding the same against disengagement fromthe door arm, the side of 4the car being provided with a hole located between the planes of thedoor and of the hook engaging portionsl of the door arms adapted toreceive a.-pry bar and to serve as a fulcrum therefor whereby .the prybar may be engaged with the free end of the door for forcing the sameupwardly to its seat. s

4. In a railway -car having a discharge lopenimg, a hinged door forclosing the opening, -a pair of door arms secured to the un dersideofthe door .and-projecting beyond the side of the car, holding means forthe door arms including a pairof hook assemblies mounted othe outside ofthe car and cach including,afbracliet, a hook pivoted therein forengagement with the door arm and a locking cam for engagement with thehook, the side of the car being formed with a hole located between thehook assemblies 'lll adapted to receive a pry-bar, and a reinforcingmember secured to the underside of the free end of" the `door and havingai hole adapted to receive the pry-bar. f

5. In a railway car having a discharge opening, a hingedly mounted doorfor closing the opening, a pair of door arms secured.

to the door and projecting beyond the side4 of the car, pivoted hooksengag'eable with the door arms, reinforcing member secured beneath thefree end of the door and secured .to the door arms, the side of the carbeing provided with a hole located between the hooks thereon and adaptedto receive a prybar, and said reinforcing member having a correspondinghole adaptedv to receive the pry-bar, the firstl named 'hole providingfulcrum means for the pry-bar. V i

, 6. A railway car having a discharge opening, a hingedly .mounted doorfor closing said opening, a door arm secured to the door, meansengageablefwith the door arm for supporting the door in closed position,the side lli.

of the car being formed with fulcruin means adapted to receive apryibar, and a reinforcing member secured to the underside ofthe door atan oblique angle to the door arm and lgaving an aperture for receivingthe pry- 7, A. railway car having a discharge opening, a hingedlymounted door for closing said opening, a doorarm secured to the door,

-means engageable with the door arm for supporting the door in closedposition, and

.agreinforcing inemberjsecured to the door,-l the side f the car beingprovided with a hole ladapted to receive a pry-bar, and said reinforcingmember hav-ing a corresponding holefor receiving the pry-bar.

8. In a railway `car having its bottom provided with a dischargeopening,v a liingedly mounted door for closing tlieopening, door armssecured to the underside of the doorand including downwardly `andoutwardly inclined portions terminating in extensions projecting beyondthe side of the car,` securing means mounted on the outside ofthe car'engageable with said extensions, and a reinforcing member" ofsubstantially Z-sliape secured to thefunderside of the freeendof thedoor and secured to the inclined poi tions of thedoor arms. A j

9. In a railwaycar having its bottom provided 'with a discharge opening,a hingedly mounted door for fclosingthe opening; doorarms' secured totlie undersideiof the door and including downwardly and. outwardly lcuring means mounted ou the outside of the inclined portions terminatingin extensions* projecting beyond the side of the car, se

carf'engageable witlrsaidj extensions, and a reinforcing member ofangular formation secured to the undersideof the free 'end of the doorand secured tothe inclined portions of lthe door arms,v the side of the'car 'being formed with a hole located between the re'- taining members,and said reinforcingn'iember being formed with a hole1 said'holes beingprovided for thepas'sage. of a pry-bar for forcing the door into closedposition, the iirst nainedholes serving as fulcrum means; for thepry-bar. i

10. A railway car having an underframe ,io construction involving acenter sill and a vfloor7 Va gravity actuated door for closing saidopening, and means' for supporting' the door in closed positioninvolving pivoted means carried by the car body and an arm .secured tothe door, the outer end of said aini being spaced from the door andprojecting outwardly beyond the side sill for cooperating with said lastnamed. means, the sidejsill being provided intermediate its upper andlow4 er edge with a fulcruintocooperate with a pry-bar forforcing thedoor to closed position.

1Q.' A railway car having a floor provided with a lading dischargeopening and a side sill depending below the general level of the Hoor, ia gravity actuated door for closing said opening, and means forsupporting the door in .closed position involving a pivoted hook carriedby the' car body andan 'arm carried bythe door, the said arm passingbeneath and projecting outwardly beyond the said sill for cooperatingwith the said hook, the sill being apertured to-receive aA pry-bar forforcing thedoor to closed posi' tion.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature. Y

WILLlAM E. VINE.

